Baxter Tests Positive

Scotland's Alain Baxter, who won a bronze medal in the men's slalom at the Winter Olympics, has test positive for the prohibited substance methamphetamine, the British Olympic Association (BOA) has announced.

The BOA, who said it was informed of the positive test on March 1, today issued a statement on behalf of Baxter.

In the statement, Baxter said: "Late on Friday afternoon I was telephoned by Simon Clegg, Team GB's Chef de Mission who told me that he had been advised by the IOC's Inquiry Commission that the sample I had produced following my slalom performance at the games contained traces of a banned substance.

"Naturally I am devastated by this news."

However Baxter has insisted that he never took the drug - which is a more powerful version of speed, and stimulates brain cells, enhancing mood and body movement.

"I have decided to make public that I am the athlete in question because I have never knowingly taken any medicine or substance to improve my performance and as such believe that I am entirely innocent," he added.

"I am now working with lawyers and medical experts to present my case to the IOC's inquiry commission (and the IOC's disciplinary commission), which I am advised is unlikely to convene until next week, with a view to defending myself successfully against the charges of doping.

"I do not intend to conduct my defence through the media and as such I am not making myself available for interview and will not be making any further statement on this matter until the IOC's inquiry and disciplinary commissions have ruled on my case."

Baxter, a 28-year-old from Aviemore, had secured his unlikely bronze medal after improving five places on the second run of the slalom competition at the 'Know You Don't' course in the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City.

Nicknamed 'The Highlander', Baxter had already caused a stir at the Games, dying his hair blue and white to resemble the Scottish Saltire flag.

However, British team chiefs persuaded Baxter to change the design - as it could constitute a prohibited political statement - and he competed with a full head of blue hair.